At
a time in my life when I was weaker physically, mentally, and emotionally than
I ever imagined I could be, a friend sent me a card with only a Scripture
reference on it. When I looked up the text and read the words, I thought, “Oh,
what a promise!” Being blessed of God to my heart, it did more for me, and gave
me greater strength, comfort, and peace than all the cards, letters, and visits
of well-meaning friends. The text was Romans 16:20 - “And the God of peace shall bruise Satan under your feet shortly. The
grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Amen.”

Here is a
suitable title for our God. Paul calls him “The God of Peace.” It is a title ascribed to him only by the
apostle Paul (Rom. 15:33; Phil. 4:9; I Thess. 5:23; Heb. 13:20). He is called “The God of Peace” because he alone is
the Author, Cause, and Giver of all peace - temporal, spiritual, and eternal.
God alone can say, “I make peace” (Isa.
45:7). That “peace which passeth
understanding” is God’s gift to his people. His thoughts toward us were “:thoughts of peace” from everlasting
(Jer. 29:11). The covenant of grace is a “covenant
of peace” made between God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit
before the world began (Isa. 54:10; Ezek. 34:25; 37:26). God the Father
appointed his dear Son to be the Peacemaker between God and men. It pleased God
to reconcile all things to himself by Christ (Col. 1:19-22). The Lord God laid
upon his Son the chastisement of our peace (Isa. 53:5). God the Holy Spirit
speaks peace to the consciences of chosen, redeemed sinners in effectual
calling, when he applies the merit of Christ’s blood to them (Heb. 9:14). We
find happiness and satisfaction in this world only to the extent that the peace
of God rules our hearts and minds (Col. 3:15).

Here
is a sure promise for the tried - “The God of peace shall bruise Satan under
your feet shortly.” This is not a promise to everyone that is tried. But it
is a promise for every child of God who is tried. Tempted, troubled, tried
believer, read the promise and rejoice. Victory is sure. It will come speedily!
Yet a little while, and he that shall come will come. When Satan seems to have
prevailed, and you are ready to give up, he will come. And when he comes to your
aid, “The God of peace shall bruise Satan
under your heel!” As Christ bruised Satan under his feet, so, too, shall he
bruise Satan under your feet. Paul does not say that we shall bruise Satan
under our feet, but that he shall. We are now out of the old serpent’s reach.
Soon we shall not even hear his hiss! Hold on a while longer. Be patient a
little while more. “And the God of peace
shall bruise Satan under your feet shortly.”

Until that time comes, here is a blessed benediction for your soul. “The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with
you. Amen.” All grace comes to us from Christ. And all grace is ours in
Christ. His grace is sufficient to meet our every need in this world, even when
Satan buffets us. And his grace will bring us to glory at last. The grace of
Christ is sure to God’s elect and glory too!